Latching device for radiator caps



Haw-2'0, 1928.

I A. c. LIPPERT LATGHING DEVICE FOR RADIATOR eggs.

Filed Aug. 11, 1924 Patented Nov. 20, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,692,179 PATENT OFFICE.

ALOYSIUS C. LIPPERT, OF KENOSHA, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE NORLIPP COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORA- TION OF ILLINOIS.

LATCHING DEVICE FOR RADIATOR CAPS.

Application filed August 11, 1924. Serial No. 731,288.

The present invention relates to radiator caps for automobiles and the like, and more particularly to the type of radiator caps adapted to be looked upon the radiator neck and which are provided with a hinged cover for closing the filling opening.

A primary object of the invention is the provision of a latching device for the cover of a radiator cap of this, character which will be easy to operate and effective in .action.

A further object is the provision of a latching device, in a radiator cap construction, which will be inexpensive to manu facture and which will not require frequent attention or replacement in service.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following dc 0 scription, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a pre ferred embodiment thereof.

- Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a front'elevation, partially broken away, of a radiator cap in which my invention is embodied;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation, partially broken away and shown in section, of said radiator p;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a latch; and

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the actuating spring.

Upon said drawings, which illustrate the best manner in which I have contemplated applying the principles of my invention, the reference character 11 indicates the body of a radiator capin which is positioned an inner collar, or adapter 12, having screw threads 13 adapted to fit upon the radiator neck, means (not shown) being provided to lock said body to said insert in such manner that rotation of the body will not unscrew the insert from the radiator neck. Inasmuch as the radiator cap assembly is thus permanently locked in place, it is necessary to provide means for readily opening and closing the filling opening to put water in the radiator, and for this purpose, a hinged cover 14 is provided, being hinged at the rear to upstanding lugs 15 by means of a pivot pin 16, which preferably extends only partially through one of the lugs 15 and is means of a punch before the pin may be driven out.

An aperture 17 is provided in the center of the'cover 14 to receive the stem of a motoineter 18, which is adapted to be locked to said cover in any preferred manner to prevent theft, provision being made, as has been heretofore stated, for preventing the removal of the cap itself from the radiator neck. At the front of said cover, I provide a lug 19 and the lower outer edge of the cover is beveled, as indicated at 21, and adapted to tightly seat against a gasket 22, which has a shoulder 23 fitting upon the top of the insert 12 and adapted to be clamped against an inwardly extending top thereto if desired. A recess 27 is formed in the upperpart of said projection and a pivot pin 28 has bearings in the stock at the sides of said recess. A latch 29 is pivotally mounted upon said pin 28, being provided with punctured lugs 31 at its lower end for this purpose. Said latch is preferably curved outwardly at the top, as indicated at 32, to facilitate manipulation thereof by the fingers, and it will be evident that the exposed portion of the latch may be ornamented in any desired manner, as by providing a contour at the top corresponding to the contour of the upper portion of the front projection 25 and name plate 26, it being noted that in the present instance the upper corners of the latch are rounded out, as indicated at 33,. to correspond to the rounded out portions 34 of the plate 26, which latter is in the general form of a keystone,

A spur 35 is provided on the rear side of the latch member 29, being formed, in the present instance, by slitting and projecting the material of said member, and this spur is adapted to engage over the forward lug 19 upon the cover 14 when the latter is in closed position and said latch is forced rearwardly. A spring 36 is provided for the purpose of holding said latch normally in 5 closing position with the spur 35 engaging over the lug 19, and this spring is preferably coiled about the pivot pin 28, with prongs 87 extending upwardly in engagement with the front side of said plate and an extended central portion 38' extending upwardly in contact with the front wall 39 of the recess 27, it being evident that the prongs 37 and extension 38 exert tension in the opposite directions, so that the latch is normally held in the full line position shown in Fig. 2 and may be moved to the dotted line position shown in said figure for thepurpose of opening the cover to fill the radiator. An opening 4C1 extends from the recess 27 through to the bottom of the projection and provides means of access to the mechanism of the latching device. It will be evident from the foregoing that with the latching device provided by my invention, the cover 14 may be quickly and easily opened and closed and will be normally held in closed position without likelihood of being accidentally opened by vibration of the car, or other accidental cause.

It is thought that the invention and its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, or

sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim: 1. In a radiator cap comprising a body attachable to the filler neck of a radiator and a cover hinged to said body and adapted to permit access to the radiator without removal of the cap body from the filler neck, means for releasably fastening said cover in closed position, said means comprising a latch member pivotally connected to the cap body and at the front thereof, said member having a part adapted to engage the top of the cover to hold the latter in closed position, said part being formed as a thumb-piece and extending vertically upward from its pivot, the engageable part of said thumb-piece being V above the cover and a spring associated with said latch member and adapted to urge the latter toward latching position.

2. In a radiator cap comprising a body attachable to the filler neck of a radiator and G0 a cover hinged to said body and adapted to permit access to the radiator without removal of the cap body from the filler neck,

means for releasably fastening said cover in closed position, said means comprising a latch member pivotally connected to the cap body and at the front thereof, said member having a projecting part adapted to engage over the top of the cover and presenting a beveled surface adapted to be acted upon by the cover in closing to move the latch out of the way, said part being formed as a thumb-piece and extending vertically upward from its pivot, the engageable part of said thumb-piece being above the cover and a spring associated with said latch member and adapted to urge the latter toward latching position.

3. In a radiator cap comprising a body attachable to the filler neck of a radiator and a cover hinged to said body and adapted to permit access to the radiator without recap body from the filler neck,

moval of the means for releasably fastening said cover in closed position, said means comprising a latch member pivotally connected to the cap body and at the front thereof, said member having an integral projecting part adapted to engage over the top of the cover and presenting a beveled surface adapted to be acted upon by the cover in closing to move the latch out of the way,.said part being 1 formed as a thumb-piece and extending vertically upward from its pivot, the engageable part of said thumb-piece being above the cover and a spring associated with said latch member and adapted to urge the latter I toward latching position. 7 V

a. In a radiator cap comprising a body attachable to the filler neck of a radiator and a cover hinged to said body and adapted to permit access to the radiator without removal of the cap body from the filler neck, means for releasably fastening said cover in closed position, said means comprising a latch member pivotally connected to the cap body and at the front thereof, said member having apart adapted to engage the top of the cover to hold the latter in closed position and a spring mounted on the pivot of said latch member and having opposed parts acting respectively upon the cap latching position, said part being formed as a thumb-piece and extending vertically upward from its pivot, the engageable part of said thumb-piece being above the cover and being spaced from a fixed part on the cap body whereby compression between said thumb-piece and said fixed part will disengage the latch.

5. In a radiator cap comprising a body. att achable to the filler neck of a radiator and a cover hinged to said body and adapted to permit access to the radiator without removal of the cap body from the filler neck, means for releasably fastening said cover in closed position, said means comprising a pivot pin mounted in a front part of the body, a latch member pivotally mounted thereon and having a part adapted to engage body and, upon the latch member to urge the latter into over the cover to hold the same in closed position, and spring means associated with said latch member and adapted to urge the same toward its latching position, said latch member having an engageable part extended upwardly in visible position at the front of the cap and a latching element on the same side of. the pivot as said engageable part.

6. In a radiator cap, comprising a body, a

cover hinged thereto and having a latching 10 lug provided With a protuberance on the top thereof, a pivoted latch member having a part adapted to engage over said protuberance to hold the cover down, said part being formed by shearing and forcing out 15 a portion of the latch.

ALOYSIUS G. LIPPERT. 

